Trump's "Verbal Pressure" to Suppress Oil Prices, Market Warns Supply-Demand Gap Could Push Oil to $135

June 22 – A top U.S. energy trader is warning that even as the Trump administration sends out soothing signals, political rhetoric is failing to mask a looming global oil supply gap of 6 to 8 million barrels per day. If inventory draws keep up, oil prices could surge sharply, possibly jumping to $135 a barrel. Energy trader Dan Dicker, who brings 25 years of trading experience to the table, points out that President Trump regularly shapes market expectations with public statements, keeping oil prices from accurately reflecting the true supply-demand imbalance right now. He says current prices are driven more by emotion and policy signals rather than underlying fundamentals. Ever since the U.S.-Iran conflict heated up and disrupted shipping flows through the Strait of Hormuz, global oil supplies have been shaken, leaving the market relying heavily on drawing down inventories. Dicker noted that if supply recovery falls short of projections, the market could face major repercussions. Despite fairly tight underlying fundamentals, international oil prices have remained stable lately. On June 22, WTI crude traded around $75 a barrel, while Brent crude was roughly $79 a barrel – a significant drop from the peak reached when tensions first flared. Analysts link the recent price dip to market optimism about a 60-day peace roadmap between the U.S. and Iran, but traders are generally cautious about how sustainable any such agreement would be, building short positions in the current price range. Dicker emphasized that current oil prices are far out of step with actual supply-demand realities, and political rhetoric is amplifying market volatility. He stressed that with lingering uncertainty over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the market is still pricing in far too little risk premium for that risk.